The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-09-17
FROM THE TREE-TOP.

One summer there lived in the top of
tree little apple. 1t was so high up it
could see great distance, over the
brook and over the fields, and beyond
to the dis tant hills, and through the
green branches above it, up to the beau
tiful sky.
Near at hand we're also lovely sights.
Just below where the apple lived there
was a little nest, and it could see the
birds taking care of their children.
Sometimes it could understand their Ian
gusge, and enjoy the free concerts when
other birds came to see them.
Near the tree was house where some
little children lived. The apple could
watch them too. Often they played
under the tree, and oh, how happy their
laughter sounded When the weather
was rainy, it looked into the upper win
dows, and saw them at their work or
games; and on moonlight nights it
watched them as they slept in their little
beds.
What beautiful nights those were
Everything was so peaceful. The moon
light and the shadows moved silently,
side by side, across the earth; the water
talked to itself and to the night, and the
crickets played softly on their little
pipes.
The apple looked up at the silver moon,
sailing on the smooth blue sea, and down
at another moon tossed into fragments in
the ripples OF the brook The wind came
by now and then, and touched its cheek,
rocked the cradle where the wee birds
were, and glided away.
But sometimes the nights we're not so
pleasant. Sky and earth we're black.
The W alter roared and the rain beat hard
against the apple. The tree rocked from
side to side, and the wind seemed trying
to uproot it. The apple up SO high was
afraid, and wished itself in safer place.
Some of its companions did break away
and falling to the ground, lay bruised
and drenched on the wet earth.
But even these nights always came to
an end, and then how bright the suns
face shone as he came over tie misty
hills! So bright that every mirror, big and
little, seemed another sun. The apple
danced with the rain drops hanging over
its side, and winked and blinked in the
dazzling brightness, all to the music
played by the birds, trees and crickets;
enough gaiety to make up for the dread
full night.
So through many long days the sun look
ed and looked at the little apple, until it
grew quite red in the face with 80 much at
tention. And now it was very happy, for
the warmth, the light, the peaceful nights
and soft breezes, had made it joyous and
sweet. The wind and rain and gloomy
nights had made it brave and strong. It
was indeed such beautiful applet
Now when cool days came, and autumn
gusts were shaking the branches of the
tree, it thought, Surely it must be time
for me to go to quieter place." And it
gently dropped to the ground. There it
lay for quite while, thinking over the
happy summer.
One morning some one came and pick
ed it up, carried it into the house, and
gave it to one of the children, telling her
to divide it with her brothers and sisters
This was the last of the little apple 1t
lived like an apple, and died like an sp-
pie, and as this is what an apple is for, it
did the best an apple could do. This is
all that God asked of it. Are you doing
as we'll as the apple? Are you doing the
best you can do?-Sardh S. Todd, in
Sunday-School Times.